<\/a>Doreen Prieto and Bobbi Mitchell examine an “octopus on the hook” root vegetable that was the youth grand prize winner at the 29th Annual Juneau Community Garden Harvest Fair on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini \/ Juneau Empire)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Prieto was standing near her herbs admiring another winning entry — an “octopus on the hook” root vegetable with tentacle-like stems splayed out beneath it that was the youth grand prize winner — under a shelter at the Juneau Community Garden where dozens of other winning vegetables, fruits and flowers were on long tables for hundreds of attendees to admire — and occasionally be startled at.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“I’ve never seen purple cauliflower and peas before,” said Allena Valentine, who said her gardening experience is limited to admiring what her mother grows in her yard, taking a picture of a cauliflower that might raise concerned eyebrows without assurances that is indeed its intended color.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
The event that started late Saturday morning featured a farmers’ market with fresh produce, pickled and canned edibles, and a concession area serving soups and other items made with garden ingredients. There was also music, marshmallow roasts around a campfire and prize giveaways — although experienced folks who came for the freshest food knew to arrive right at the 11 a.m. start.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“Because this is the only harvest day of the year you try not to miss it,” said Penny Saddler, who along with fellow gardener Pauline Plumb were hauling bags filled with items such as carrots, leeks, chives and garlic while waiting for their own produce to reach peak form.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
<\/a>Caroline Hamp, Teddy White, 1, and Billie White, 2, eat a lunch of soup, salad and baked goods made largely with locally grown items during the 29th Annual Juneau Community Garden Harvest Fair on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini \/ Juneau Empire)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Residents with plots at the community garden said it’s generally been a good year, if not completely consistent, for their crops. Michelle Workman, whose granddaughter Alivia, 4, was roasting marshmallows, said her garden this year consists of garlic, lettuce, rhubarb, lots of flowers, plus carrots that are growing a bit slowly this year.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
On the other hand, “the zucchini are doing great,” she said. “We can’t give those away fast enough.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Workman said she bought some items from fellow gardeners such as rhubarb jam and apple turnovers, but some hoped-for favorites disappeared quickly.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“We were here at 11, but they were out,” she said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t